CVE-2020-21064 in Bento4
Summary
by MITRE • 08/14/2021
A buffer-overflow vulnerability in the AP4_RtpAtom::AP4_RtpAtom function in Ap4RtpAtom.cpp of Bento4 1.5.1.0 allows attackers to cause a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-21064 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the Bento4 media processing library version 1.5.1.0. This flaw specifically resides in the AP4_RtpAtom::AP4_RtpAtom function located in the Ap4RtpAtom.cpp source file, where improper input validation leads to memory corruption during the parsing of RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) atoms within media files. The affected library is widely used for media processing and streaming applications, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for systems that handle multimedia content processing.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the function processes malformed RTP atom data structures without adequate bounds checking or input sanitization. When an attacker crafts a specially crafted media file containing maliciously formatted RTP atoms, the AP4_RtpAtom constructor fails to properly validate the size parameters of the incoming data, leading to a situation where more data is written to a buffer than it can accommodate. This condition typically results in stack corruption or heap memory corruption, which can trigger application crashes or potentially enable more sophisticated exploitation techniques depending on the execution environment and memory layout.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Bento4 for media processing workflows, streaming services, or content management systems. The denial of service condition can be easily triggered by simply processing a malicious media file, causing legitimate applications to crash or become unresponsive. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to attackers seeking to disrupt services or create availability issues in media processing environments. The vulnerability affects systems that parse and handle RTP-based media content, including streaming servers, media processing pipelines, content delivery networks, and any application that utilizes the Bento4 library for media file manipulation.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow and CWE-122 Heap-based Buffer Overflow within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, representing fundamental memory safety issues that have been consistently identified as high-risk in software development practices. According to MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1499.004 Network Denial of Service and potentially T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter if exploitation leads to remote code execution. Organizations should consider implementing input validation controls, memory safety enhancements, and regular security updates to address this weakness. The recommended mitigation strategy includes upgrading to a patched version of Bento4, implementing strict input validation measures, and deploying defensive programming practices such as using safe string handling functions and enabling compiler-based buffer overflow protections like stack canaries or address space layout randomization.
Organizations utilizing Bento4 libraries should prioritize immediate remediation through official vendor patches or version updates, as the vulnerability presents a straightforward path to service disruption. Additionally, implementing network segmentation, access controls, and monitoring for unusual processing patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in multimedia processing libraries and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of media handling components in enterprise environments.